Google Stadia review - This is the future of gaming, if you have the data for it - Android

When you think of Google, you probably don’t think of a gaming company. You probably think of the search company or the creator of Android. But a gaming company? That’s (mostly) new territory.

Enter Google Stadia, the tech giant’s ambitious cloud gaming project that’s set to go toe-to-toe with Microsoft’s Project xCloud and Nvidia’s GeForce Now. Stadia is a new way for people to play games using Google’s powerful server centers — you don’t need a PC or a console to play, just a stable internet connection and a controller.

Does it live up to the hype at launch? Find out in our Google Stadia review.

The basics

Google Stadia works by relaying inputs from a controller over the internet, then streaming the result back to the device of your choosing via cloud computing power. You can stream to a Chrome browser (I used my Pixelbook for this), a TV using a Chromecast Ultra, or a select number of Android phones.

At launch, Stadia supports the Pixel 2 series, Pixel 3 series, Pixel 3a series and Pixel 4 series devices, but Google says it is looking to expand the list of compatible phones in the future. It should also be noted you can’t use an existing Chromecast Ultra with Stadia just yet. Google says an update will be rolling out soon to update all models, but for now you have to use the one bundled with the controller in either the Founder’s Edition or Premiere Edition.

Stadia can stream up to 4K resolution at 60fps, depending on the quality of your internet connection and membership tier. Google recommends at least 10Mbps for a stable 720p stream, but the service will dynamically change resolution based on the speed and stability of your internet connection.

Google sells a dedicated Stadia controller that uses Wi-Fi to relay your inputs to Google servers. The controller technically has Bluetooth, but currently, it is only used to connect to your Chromecast and to Wi-Fi. At launch, the Stadia controller will need to be connected with a physical cable to play on your phone or PC. The Stadia controller only comes with a USB-A to USB-C cable, so you’ll have to find a USB-C to USB-C cable if you want to play on your phone. Google says you won’t need a cable in the future, though.

Read more: What is cloud gaming?

If you would rather use your own controller or a mouse and keyboard, you can use them on a laptop or desktop. Currently, the Stadia controller won’t work as a standalone Bluetooth controller for your other gaming needs, but Google has not ruled out the possibility of adding that feature through a firmware update.

Is the Google Stadia controller good?

The Stadia controller is fairly basic but feels good in the hand. There are two joysticks, a D-pad, and an ABXY button array. You’ll also find L1 and R1 bumpers and L2 and R2 triggers. In the center, there is a Stadia button used for turning on the device, a Google Assistant button, a screenshot button, start, and select buttons.

The Google Assistant button will be used to help users traverse areas of a game they can’t figure out by pulling up a YouTube video at a timecode relevant to their point in the game. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to test this feature because the Google Assistant is not yet active on Stadia. We’ll have to test this feature more after it becomes available.

The Stadia controller charges via a USB-C port, which is currently also used to connect the device to your phone or computer. This USB-C port can also be used with USB-C headphones.

On the bottom, you’ll find a dual headphone-microphone jack. This means you can plug in a gaming headset directly into the controller for voice chat. There’s voice chat built into the Stadia platform, so you can chat with your friends directly through the interface.

Overall, the controller feels well designed. I prefer concave joysticks like the ones seen on the Stadia controller, and the buttons don’t feel overly cheap. The buttons and D-pad don’t actuate as nicely as the Xbox One controller, but they’re better than most third-party options you’d buy. The triggers feel snappy, and the controller is a good weight, meaning light but with a reassuring heft. At $69 this is a bit expensive, but it’s a similar case for most first-party, official controllers.

Battery life seemed great while I used the Stadia controller. I only had to charge the gamepad once over multiple multi-hour gaming sessions, but I found myself plugging it in out of habit after it died the first time, since it has a USB-C port for charging. I’ve got plenty of USB-C cables plugged in around my house, so this charging method is very nice to see.

The interface

Something nice about Google Stadia is the cohesiveness of the interface. It’s effectively the same across all platforms, whether you’re accessing it on your TV, an app on your phone, or the Google Chrome web browser.

On boot, you’ll see a list of the games you own, and you can easily access a store page to see what’s available for purchase. You can also connect a controller, start a party, and view your screenshots, straight from the interface. It’s a simplistic approach to the standard gaming UI, which is often bloated with extra settings and menus.

Because all the games are based on Google’s servers, they’ll never need to be updated like they are on game consoles and computers. As soon as you boot up Stadia, you can play right away.

The Stadia store is simple to use. Click on a game and Google will give you the option to purchase it, and you’ll even have the option to use Google Play credits to purchase games. Have some extra opinion rewards dollars sitting around? That can be turned into money off a Stadia title.

The Friends tab allows you to see a list of your friends you might want to g